• REA urges Rishi Sunak to expand Energy Company Obligation;
• Calls follow reports that Chancellor has blocked a £200 million package to make homes more energy efficient; 
• REA says that investment will relieve pressure on household energy bill costs;

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) have urged the Chancellor to expand the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, following reports that a £200 million package to make homes more energy efficient has been blocked by the Treasury.

Ahead of the release of the Energy Security Strategy, the REA have stressed the need for the Government to help people quickly transition away from fossil fuels and onto renewables, as well as reducing heat demand through better insulation. They say that, while the Energy Security Strategy must offer a long-term plan for the UK’s energy future, the Government must also turbocharge support for technologies which can meet the challenges of today.

An expansion of the Energy Company Obligation scheme would help to pay for insulation, new boilers and other energy efficiency measures for households facing a cost of living crisis.

The Association says that a failure to invest in energy efficiency measures ‘will condemn people to continued financial hardship for the foreseeable future.’

Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, Chief Executive of the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said:

“It is crucial that the Energy Security Strategy offers a long-term plan for the UK’s energy future so we can deliver on our Net Zero commitments. However, the Government must know that they need to turbocharge support for technologies which can meet the challenges of today too, and not just focus solely on developments which won’t come to fruition for another 5, 10, 15 years.

“This is a critical moment. The Government has to invest in energy efficiency measures to help relieve some of the immense cost pressures households are facing. A failure to do so will condemn people to continued financial hardship for the foreseeable future.

“Energy efficiency makes sense because every unit of energy saved is one that doesn’t have to be bought from elsewhere or paid to produce’

“The Government cannot delay – they must act now.”

—ENDS—

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Notes to editors

About the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA):

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (known as the REA) is the UK’s largest trade association for renewable energy and clean technologies with around 550 members operating across heat, transport, power and the Circular Economy. The REA is a not-for-profit organisation representing fourteen sectors, ranging from biogas and renewable fuels to solar and electric vehicle charging. Membership ranges from major multinationals to sole traders.

For more information, visit: www.r-e-a.net